revolution saint

I've just read the article and it's not really that bad. He thinks both clubs would be a good place for Clarke and he thinks maybe Ipswich are a better attacking team and maybe stand a better chance of staying up. Sounds like exactly what it is, which is ex-pro is asked for an opinion on something he doesn't really know or care much about.

I'm not sure we'd be having this conversation about Smallbone if Martin hadn't decided he could play a deeper role. He can't and all it did was show up his limitations - he's slow(ish) and can't really tackle. If that's not his job then I think he could be OK. He looks to be at his best as one of a three and if he's played like that then I reckon he's earnt a crack at giving it a go. He'll need to improve on certain things but he's a decent passer, can move the ball quickly, spot chances and carries a goal threat so there's no reason he can't step up.

BBD looks like he'd throw his grandmother under a bus to score a goal. He's a decent Che replacement at any rate - scored roughly the same as you would expect Che would in less than half the games.

Probably - they seem to have more right than the rubbish that comes from domestic chancers. Fabrizio Romano doesn't seem to get much wrong.

I think if palace thought he was ready for the premier league then they would keep him this season. They did want him involved last season and although injuries didn't help they've obviously concluded he still isn't quite ready yet which is why they they want a championship loan. From the little I've seen and Palace fan I spoke to he probably could be a decent player in the future but the problem is we are better off right now signing and loaning players that are more likely to make a big difference this season. It's all about the context of other signings - I've got no problem if we satisfy the needs of the first team and have him as an option to gradually integrate then that's fine. If we're expecting him to be starting 11 material when his own club (who see him everyday) don't then that's probably not the smartest move we could make.

Palace think he needs a loan for a season at a championship club. If they thought he was ready for the premier league then they wouldn't be buying Sarr.

Transfer window is busy - shocker. Our squad is barely better than last season's championship team. I hope the club know this.

Yeah sure, that's the accounting side of it but I think it's the amount being potentially spent when it could be better used elsewhere that's the issue and not how it gets recorded. Ultimately you still need to have the money.

Ha, should have thought about Adam Armstrong. I guess it's not his natural position although it probably should be now.

TBF he's a right sided winger and the only one I can think who naturally plays in that position is Sam Amo. Does seem a strange one though - consensus seems to be that he's not ready for the premier league and ideally needs a season in the championship to develop. I think he could be a good player and if we had unlimited funds then it wouldn't be a bad investment but right now he's probably not what we need and that money could be spent better elsewhere (likewise with a loan).

Purely hypothetical but I wonder what our stance would be if someone came in for Sam Amo or Dibling and they indicated they wanted to move.

Seems a bit harsh on Alcaraz, he came out and said he wanted to stay last summer, signed a new contract whilst we were a championship club, and didn't kick up a fuss when he couldn't make the team. Admittedly he wasn't that great when he did play but that's beside the point. The loan move to Juventus suited the club as much as it did the player.

Their news adverts have been annoying me for a while. They're so patronising. The Radio 5 one, "The world can be a scary and confusing place at times, so lets talk about it", or Katy Kay explaining to simpletons the basic art of conversation, "And sometimes it's important to just listen". Fuck off.

Welington definitely is, not sure about Juan but won't be much if anything. Will be interesting to see how it's recorded - Goztepe could be paying us a loan fee to cover any expenses and if they end up getting sold down the line then presumably that's our profit.

Multi club ownership working well for Goztepe. Neither Juan or Welington look any good so not too worried and doubt we'll ever see them play unless it's a friendly against us.

Palace fan at work's verdict is, "I personally don't think he's anywhere near Premier League level at the moment, and we'd only loan him somewhere where he would be guaranteed to play regularly and I don't think he would at any Prem club (albeit I don't know the state of your current options on the right wing) as I don't think he's quite ready for it. " He looks like he probably needs a season in the championship before he's ready to start in the premier league so I'm not sure it's much of a loss if we move on.

If we're thinking of either getting a new striker and keeping Che, or getting two new strikers if Che leaves then I can kind of see the point in leaving the door open for him. He's not great, he'll probably get you around 8 goals but you do know what you're getting with him, knows the system and won't disrupt things. Renewing his contract would be cheaper than say getting Brereton-Diaz in and there's no guarantee he'd be any better. A free like Iheancho would be similar cost wise but comes with more uncertainty (could be better than Che, could be worse). If renewing his contract saves money for another striker then maybe it's worth it? Personally I think it's best for all concerned if Che goes elsewhere and I think both club and player could do with parting ways but from a financial aspect keeping him as a squad player might not be the worst thing. Obviously if he's asking stupid money and expects to be the main man then we definitely need to move on.

Yeah, goal return isn’t great for a decent team. I never really rated him that much, he’s ok but never seemed anything special.

Interesting we were prepared to use one of our loan spots on him (if true).

Fair enough and from a numbers point of view we don't have much of an alternative in the same mould of Downes. If we play three at the back then we won't be so reliant on a holding midfielder anyway. Even Downes was far more progressive and advanced at the end of last season when we switched formations so it might not be as big a deal.

Nice to have but would you spend a decent amount on it given the obvious weaknesses in the rest of the starting 11? If we've got unlimited funds then sure, knock yourself out, but I doubt we have. I think we should get another midfielder but it'll be more of an 8, and we need to replace Stu Armstrong unless we see Alcaraz, Smallbone or Aribo doing that. I don't see us using a loan on someone primarily as cover so I reckon if we get anyone else in then it'll be a free or nominal fee.

What is it with trying to bloat out the squad? Yesterday there were calls for a backup for Downes and now you want another CB. We've already got six. Meanwhile up front we've got Ross Stewart untested virtually jumping two divisions and hasn't played in any meaningful way for 18 months, Adam Armstrong who couldn't cut it last time out in the premier league and Sekou Mara. Attacking mid positions look weak as f*ck too. There are far more higher priorities than another CB.

You’re right, it probably doesn’t matter much which is why it’s not very exciting

Nah, not really sharing that. Welington looks and sounds a bit shite. He’s not even that well regarded in Brazil. Juan doesn’t look that much cop and has scored 4 times in 58 appearances. Plus he won’t be available for two years. I was excited when we signed Alcaraz as he was well regarded and a bit of a talent but these two aren’t. Dunno about the Japanese players but it’ll be years before we see them if ever. Not including Sugawara as he’s come from a European league and established.

Someone on here mentioned we'd made an enquiry but it's only rumour/hearsay. I read that as us looking at alternatives if we couldn't get Downes (personally think Camara is probably the same) but who knows? If we're playing three cbs then that lessens the need for too many defensive midfielders anyway - the problem will be getting enough bodies up to support the forwards.